A FORMER MP famed for ousting Michael Portillo will take on Labour veteran Bob Wareing in the battle for the safe West Derby seat.

A FORMER MP famed for ousting Michael Portillo will take on Labour veteran Bob Wareing in the battle for the safe West Derby seat.

Ex-education minister Stephen Twigg was one of six hopefuls shortlisted by the party and is the government favourite.

He memorably beat Tory Portillo in the 1997 landslide but lost the seat in 2005 .

Dave Rowntree, drummer with 1990s Britpop band Blur, did not make the shortlist. Nor did former city councillor Oliver Martins and ex-Broadgreen chairman Ged Taylor, both considered local front-runners.

Almost 50 people, one from Belgium, put their names forward for the seat.

Mr Wareing, 76, who is fighting deselection, was guaranteed a place in the shortlist.

The other candidates are ex-councillor Martin Cummins from Norris Green, Labour group spokesperson for social care and community safety Cllr Roz Gladden, from Clubmoor, Cherie Hill, from Ellesmere Port, and Floyd Millen, who is from the Midlands.

Mr Wareing will fight to continue his 24-year career in the ballot of rank-and-file party members on September 16.